Corporate Social Responsibility on the Zambian Mining Industry

This report presents the different approaches to CSR in Zambia among mining companies whose activities have huge impacts on the environment. The mining related issues raised in the report include health and safety, security, education, migrant and settlement patterns, environmental management, poverty reduction, job creation, local economic development, gender and HIV/AIDS

FAMILY DISORGANISATION AND MENTAL HEALTH IN A SOUTH AFRICAN MINING COMMUNITY

Family disorganisation and mental health in mining communities in South Africa are notunique, but it is the unique nature of mining communities that creates the risk factors and thetypes of service provisions that exacerbate the vulnerability of these communities (Gylfason,2001). At the same time, it is the nature of mental health that makes it a largely ignored healthproblem in these communities. These are burning and relevant issues and the focus of thisarticle

Corporate Social Responsibility in the Zambian mining sector: an overview of three distinctive operational eras

ABSTRACT Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the extractive industry is a relevant and contentious issue globally. Issues pertaining to equality, human rights and sustainable development are pervasive throughout the economic, social and environmental arenas of the extractive industry. There is still not consensus on the definition of CSR regarding the measurement of performance or impact, or how to determine which of the various ‘developmental’ components of the concept – namely economic, social or environment – takes precedent over the other where there are competing interests. This article on CSR in the Zambian Copperbelt uses the experiences of mining communities as stakeholders who have gone through three types and eras of CSR practices within a generation. The Zambian Copperbelt has a history of operating under colonial rule, nationalisation and privatisation. The aim is to interrogate the CSR practices of the three identified eras in the history of the Zambian Copperbelt. The article is based on the findings from a mainly qualitative research approach. The research employed the survey procedure through focus groups, personal interviews and inputs from key informants.The findings are presented by a selection of narratives of CSR experiences from the Zambian Copperbelt mining communities. Consequently, an in depth discussion and analysis reflecting the effects of a CSR enabling environment in the three eras as experienced by community members follows. The paper concludes with a brief overview of the lessons learnt throughout the three eras. OPSOMMING Korporatiewe Sosiale Verantwoordelikheid (KSV) binne die ontginningsindustrie is 'n relevante en omstrede kwessie wêreldwyd. Kwessies met betrekking tot gelykheid, menseregte en volhoubare ontwikkeling is universeel ooglopend binne die ekonomiese-, sosiale- en omgewingsarenas van die mynsektor. Daar is steeds nie konsensus oor die definisie van KSV rakende die meting van prestasie of impak daarvan nie, ook nie hoe om te bepaal watter een van die verskillende "ontwikkelings" komponente van die konsep (naamlik die ekonomiese, sosiale of omgewingsaspek) bevoordeel moet word bo die ander, waar daar mededingende belange is nie. Hierdie artikel oor KSV in die Zambiese Koperstreek gebruik die ervarings van myngemeenskappe as belanghebbendes wat deur drie tipes en tydperke van KSV praktyke gegaan het, binne 'n generasie. Die Zambiese Koperstreek het 'n geskiedenis van die bedrywighede onder koloniale heerskappy, nasionalisering en privatisering. Die doel is om die KSV praktyke van die drie bogenoemde eras te ondersoek deur die geskiedenis van die Zambiese Koperstreek. Hierdie artikel is gebaseer op die bevindinge van 'n hoofsaaklik kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering en het gebruik gemaak van fokusgroepe, persoonlike onderhoude en insette deur sleutel informante. Die bevindinge word aangebied deur 'n seleksie van verhale rakende die KSV ervarings van die Zambiese Koperstreek myngemeenskappe. Daarna volg ?n in-diepte bespreking en ontleding rakende die gevolge van 'n KSV bemagtigende omgewing, in die drie eras soos ervaar deur lede van die gemeenskap. Die artikel sluit af met 'n kort oorsig oor die lesse wat geleer is oor die drie eras.https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.82.1.228

Transitions from school to work : Local black and migrant youths in a South African mining community

The mining sector in South Africa has its history thoroughly embedded in the migration process and has been described as being the forerunner to the apartheid system. Yet fifteen years after the eradication of the apartheid system it is the mining sector where the old system still lingers in terms of the discriminatory practices in employment and social conditions. The migration system borne out of the discovery of the gold mines in the country still continues with migrant employment peaking at 59% the total mining labour force whilst the country reports a 40 percent unemployment rate with the youths recording the highest unemployment rates since the country gained independence in 1994. This qualitative study utilising grounded theory explored the factors influencing the experiences and expectations of local black and migrant youths in the transition from school to work in a South African mining community. The theoretical framework that emerged from data collected reflected complex aspects of the study brought about by the combination of the transitional period that South Africa is going through, the closed nature and migratory process of the South African mining communities. The theories drawn from data included theories of migration; historical structural approach, the neo-classical equilibrium perspective and the migration systems approach, forms of capital; taking account of the main influential contributors namely Bourdieu, Coleman and Putnam, and developmental theories; focussing on the Capabilities approach by Sen and Nussbaum, and Freire’s education and empowerment theories. The findings revealed that major factors impacting on the transition from school to work related to the gaps that existed between the micro, meso and macro levels of analysis which manifested mainly in the gaps between policy and practice, expectations and realities and the contradictions between globalisation and national interests

Transitions from school to work : Local black and migrant youths in a south african mining community

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Sustainable social development in the South African mining sector

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0376835090308678

'No one knows like we do' - the narratives of mental health service users trained as researchers

In 2008, Mind in Bexley received a research development grant from the Big Lottery Fund and a training grant from Bexley Care Trust to empower service users to par ticipate and contribute to a pilot research project. The project aims were to work with, develop, train and suppor the service users as researchers, in order to record the narratives of service users who have common experiences of mental health distress and treatment. The research development project set up an advisory group, created and developed a partnership with the University of Kent and provided workshops and training sessions to explore some of the principles of research and ethics. In addition, the group under took a preliminary literature review, developed and refined a research questionnaire and piloted interviews with six service users. Many issues were raised and lessons learned during the planning and conduct of the project. This paper discusses the process and reflects on aspects of the project�s design and delivery. In addition, this paper highlights some of the difficulties in under taking service user research and suggests recommendations as to how to overcome some of these complex issues